Tuesday, November 20, 2012

We Will Not Forget You

November 20th marks the 14th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance when people from all across the globe pause to remember those who have lost their lives to anti-transgender violence. Transgender women, particularly transgender women of color, are disproportionately subjected to hate violence. According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 44% of all LGBT murder victims in 2010 were transgender women. Herndon Graddick GLAAD President stated, "With anti-transgender violence on the rise, we remember our colleagues, friends & family whose lives were taken simply because of who they are. We must stand together to end the violence, working every day to spread awareness & acceptance of transgender people." Transgender Day of Remembrance marks the end of Transgender Awareness Week, a national campaign to raise visibility & awareness of transgender people & issues, which began November 12. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) observed Transgender Awareness Week with the national launch of new "I AM: Trans People Speak" videos, featuring New York Times bestseller Professor Jennifer Finney Boylan, actress Laverne Cox, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) attorney Noah Lewis & performance poet Kit Yan. The campaign, first started by Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) in 2010, aims to spotlight the stories of transgender Americans & their allies in an effort to educate the public about transgender issues, as well as speak to transgender youth & adults. For More Info & Watch Videos: glaad.org